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Thursday, 16 August 2012

The Friends have create an online survey to find out a bit about users of the library and what they like and don't. It will take no more than five minutes to complete and you could be helping to improve the service and make the library more popular. We thank you for your time!

A CRIME thriller set in Molesey? It sounds unlikely but it could happen if local author Louise Voss has anything to do with it.

Louise, from West Molesey, wrote the hugely popular Catch Your Death and Killing Cupid novels - both Amazon bestsellers - together with her writing partner Mark Edwards.

And although Molesey has yet to feature in her work, she hinted that it might in future.

Louise said: "I’ve lived in Molesey for nearly 10 years, and I love it. I don’t think I’ve ever been to Tesco’s and not seen someone I know. I haven’t ever set any of my writing here, but I’m sure I will at some point."

Louise and Mark will be visiting Molesey Library on September 7th 2012 from 7.15pm as guests of the Friends, and will talk about their books and the secrets of their success. They will sign copies and there will be wine and nibbles provided.

Louise discovered a love of writing as a teenager when she kept "cringeworthy diaries" and decided to become an author after taking a writing class in in 1990s. She found an agent, and wrote two manuscripts but it was three years before her first novel To Be Someone was published. More were to follow.

Louise spotted Mark on a BBC documentary about aspiring authors in 1999. They began to exchange regular emails and eventually to write together and to self-publish.

"At first we used to write alternate chapters - which was easy in Killing Cupid, since it has separate male and female narrators. Our second novel together, Catch Your Death, was written in the third person, and we would write a chapter each and then edit each other’s chapters to add our own ‘voice’ into the mix. Mark tends to write all the psychopaths and the violent bits, because I’m a wimp."

Louise and Mark were the first British self-published authors to top of the charts of internet book retailer Amazon, and as a result Harper Collins gave them a six-figure four-book deal.

Louise said: "I REALLY hope people will come along and meet us on September 7th. Both Mark and I thoroughly enjoy these evenings, meeting people and answering questions. It’s particularly great to be able to participate in an event that will raise funds for the library, and it should be interesting, especially to anybody with an interest in writing or publishing."

Tickets for the evening with Louise and Mark are £5 and can be purchased from Kate Fairbrother on 020 8941 5292 or Russell Seekins on 020 8979 1314.

STAFF and users of Molesey Library have welcomed a new manager - Joanne Ryan.

Joanne took over in June, having previously worked for luxury clothing companies Aquascutum and Jaeger but fancied a career change.

She is originally from Liverpool and lived in Surrey for 12 years, currently in Hampton with her cat and her partner who also manages a Surrey library, although his is based within a high security prison!

Joanne said: "I love the village-like community spirit of Molesey. The fact that I have seen so many familiar faces already during my time here is a testament to the fact that everyone is extremely supportive of our service."

She intends to continue the high standards of service established by previous manager Helen Cronin and is aiming to create an even more welcoming environment.

Joanne added: "We have a new and seating area where you can ‘put your feet up’ and relax with a nice coffee and a good book."

She is excited about the 'Story Lab Summer Reading Challenge' currently under way to get kids more involved in the library, as well as an upcoming event called 'Ancestry', where library visitors will be able to investigate their family history, and 'Get Online' - a crash-course introduction to basic PC skills and internet browsing.

As you would expect Joanne is a great lover of books, and her favourites are anything to do with Medieval and Renaissance history. She also enjoys fiction including Yaan Martel’s Life Of Pi and The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

If you are passing why not drop in an say hello to Joanne and her team.